March 28, 2024

Newton location included in multi-county federal search

A large scale, multi-county federal search warrant operation conducted on Wednesday included a location in Newton. Officers from the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force — East executed a search in the 800 block of East Sixth Street North, one of more than 20 locations where searched were carried out.

According to a report released by Southern District of Iowa United States Attorney Kevin E. Vander Schel, warrants were issued in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Grimes, Pleasant Hill and Maxwell along with the Newton location.

Six individuals were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as a result of the searches. They include Shannon Lee Paxton, 46, of Des Moines, Kerry Drew Haegele, 47, of Des Moines, Fidel Rios, Jr., 34, of Pasco, Washington, Kira Fallis, 26, of Elkhart, John Archer, 52, of Des Moines and Charles Astley, 63, of Des Moines.

The searches were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents and investigators from the Des Moines Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol and Central Iowa Drug Task Force along with the MINE Task Force — East.